Franklin Regional’s Dylan Mauser advances at WPIAL golf championships

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Franklin Regional sophomore Dylan Mauser nervously stood near the scorer’s table at Latrobe Country Club during the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A boys golf championships hoping he’d be one of the 36 golfers to advance to the finals.

Mauser said he wouldn’t have to worry if he didn’t double-bogey No. 18 moments earlier.

But after all the golfers were done, Mauser was relieved that he advanced to the final round set for Oct. 2 at Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray.

He shot a 10-over 82, two strokes clear of the cut line.

It wasn’t the score he hoped for, but gave him a chance to qualify for the PIAA championship at Penn State on Oct. 16 and 17. The Top 14 finishers at the WPIAL championships advance to the state tournament on the Blue Course.

“I didn’t have a great round,” Mauser said. “I needed a bogey to for sure make it and I pushed my drive right and was in a divot and chunked it out. I was looking at the scoreboard and I just qualified. I’m happy and we’ll see how the next round goes.”

Mauser said he had a pretty consistent round otherwise.

“I made a few good par saves and hit a few good putts,” Mauser said. “I also hit some poor shots. I just missed an eagle putt on No. 15. ”

Mauser said he missed qualifying as a freshman and was disappointed the team came up short in qualifying for the WPIAL postseason this year. He said his goal was to make it to the finals.

“We started off well, but we didn’t finish,” Mauser said. “We needed another win and didn’t get it.

“This somewhat makes up for the team disappointment, but I would rather the team succeed. Hopefully next year we can make it through.”

Mauser hoped to finish off his WPIAL tournament final round with a good score and be in contention for a state berth.

“My goal is to play as best as I can,” Mauser said. “I heard it’s a hard course. I haven’t played it. My goal is to get as close as I can to qualifying for states. If it’s not an option, it’s not an option. I want to put my best foot forward.

“I could have played better this round, but I didn’t. I want to see how I stand after the next round and play a good round and see where it puts me.”

The WPIAL girls golf championship was set for Oct. 4 at Diamond Run Golf Course.

Franklin Regional senior Ali Boyle (88) and sophomore Gianna Johnson (96) hoped to finish in the Top 7 to advance to states. Peters Township sophomore Ellie Benson led the pack after the first round of WPIAL competition, posting a 1-over 73.

The girls’ cut line also was 82.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

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